Birthday Time

I celebrated my b-day this weekend at my parent's house. It was a good time. I am 35 now, and I swear I counted about 5 new wrinkles around my eyes. Oh well, they are from smiling so much and I welcome smile-wrinkles. ;)

My mom is a fab cook and said she would make anything I wanted. All I wanted for my b-day dinner was her Fresh Pesto Pasta, Salad de Maison and a cheesy vanilla store bought cake. My mom is a pretty classy gal (who makes everything from scratch, even mac&cheese) so for her to go to the grocery store and buy me a cake was probably difficult for her. If it was up to her she would have made me some gourmet 5 layer creation. But no, give me the $10 grocery store cake (I'm so tacky, I know).

Below are the recipes to my delicious birthday Pesto:

PEGGY'S PESTO

2 cups loosely packed basil leaves

1/2 cup olive oil

2 Tbs. pine nuts

4 clove garlic

1 tsp. salt

3/4 cups grated Parmesan cheese

3 Tbs. softened unsalted butter

Put basil, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic and salt in a food processor or blender. Blend or process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cheese and butter. This sauce will melt over warm pasta. If freezing put in small freezer bags, small canning jars or plastic containers.